“Nailed It” Energy: 40 Food Fails That Tried Their Best

Have you ever tried making a Pinterest-perfect meal, only for it to turn out looking more like a crime scene than a culinary masterpiece? We’ve all been there. Life can throw you curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs land right in the middle of your dinner plate. But hey, it’s all part of the fun, right?

Whether it’s a cake that collapsed faster than your motivation on a Monday morning or a pizza that’s more abstract art than food, these food fails are here to remind us that not everything in the kitchen turns out perfect.

From burnt pancakes to frosting disasters, these 40 food fails come from r/shittyfoodporn—a place where people share their funniest, most unfortunate cooking experiences. Prepare for some laughs and a whole lot of sympathy as we dive into this delicious mess of “nailed it” energy!

#1 Subway’s new $5 “Footlong Doritos”. WTF?

Source: ambachk

#2 Assorted cheese plate at the hotel I’m staying at

Source: New_Fry

#3 Note to self. Do not drink too much and pass out for five hours while food is in the oven

Source: Beerenthusiast1

#4 This ‘meal’ a friend posted on Facebook.

Source: Reddit user

#5 Breakfast was frozen green beans, mushrooms, egg, turkey bacon and avocado

Source: ditzycherub

All of the images in this collection come from r/shittyfoodporn, a hilarious subreddit where people post their cooking mishaps and kitchen disasters. The community has gained massive popularity with over 700,000 members, each sharing their cooking fails, cringeworthy recipes, and the aftermath of their attempts to impress.

The subreddit’s followers have a keen sense of humor and understand that not every dish goes according to plan—some are just hilariously bad. By sharing their stories and photos, the members of r/shittyfoodporn have created a space where we can all laugh at our shared mistakes and learn that, sometimes, it’s not about the perfection but the fun along the way.

#6 No amount of pinching could wake you from this fever dream of a St. Patrick’s day meal.

Source: New-Throat9796

#7 Weird pregnancy cravings. Olives and cheese (and crispy onion)

Source: dollsandme

#8 Weird pregnancy cravings. Olives and cheese (and crispy onion)

Source: Z0ryx

#9 My wife’s disgustingly dry pork tenderloin, cooked for about 4 hours

Source: bungdaddy

#10 Subway nachos lookin a bit sad

Source: TheDrake162

We’ve all seen those Pinterest recipes, beautifully curated with vibrant images of perfectly plated dishes. You know the ones—the mouthwatering desserts and intricate meals that make us think, “I can totally do that!” But then, reality hits when your batter’s too runny, or your cake has the consistency of a brick. It’s like you were handed a magic wand but ended up with a spoonful of disaster instead.

These moments—when expectations meet reality—are captured perfectly in these food fails. It’s in these fails that we see the beauty of imperfection. And let’s face it, the kitchen is a battleground, and sometimes the food just wins.

#11 Is my brother okay ?

Source: joobleberry

#12 Mint chocolate ramen now before you say anything like I’m disgusting I have an explanation

Source: amanwhodrinksmate

#13 Fajitas, but missing the sautéd vegetables

Source: Wasting_Time1234

#14 My buddy tried making ramen

Source: ipunchtigers

#15 I am NOT having a good day

Source: GodsGayestTerrorist

I once tried making a birthday cake for my best friend. I had this grand vision of a multi-layered, beautiful creation, topped with colorful frosting and fondant flowers. Fast forward to the day of the party, and it was… well, a hot mess. The cake layers were uneven, the frosting was more like a puddle, and the fondant flowers?

More like wilted blobs of sadness. As I watched everyone try to politely eat the lopsided cake, I realized it didn’t matter that it looked like a disaster—what mattered was that we all laughed together, and it became a running joke at every party thereafter. Sometimes, it’s the imperfections that make the moments memorable.

#16 Facebook never disapoints. Frizza.

Source: DuckDuckFlavour

#17 Made lunch all on my own!

Source: Tacobellbelly1

#18 God has left the chat

Source: Tango91

#19 Poor man’s charcuterie for lunch today 💖

Source: archaicblossom

#20 Skyline Chili Dogs

Source: smalllcokewithfries

Humor and food have long been linked. According to a study by the University of California, humor often serves as a social bonding tool, especially when it comes to shared experiences like food. When we encounter a cooking fail, it’s not just the mishap itself that makes us laugh—it’s the relatability. Everyone’s been there.

The study found that humor helps us process discomfort or embarrassment, turning a moment of failure into something we can laugh about. So, the next time your cake falls apart or your cookies burn, remember: it’s not just funny, it’s therapeutic.

#21 Sausage in your sausage

Source: Jackabing

#22 My bacon sandwich with cream cheese instead of mayonnaise

Source: butteronryetoast

#23 I ordered and ate the Pickle Pizza from Domino’s in Japan. Forced myself to eat it over 3 days. It was mediocre

Source: DJnerate

#24 Did a 11.5 hour shift at work today, only had a cup of tea for lunch…

Source: Breadstix009

#25 “detroit style” pizza with pregated cheese and cheap pasta sauce feels illegal but it tasted good

Source: BloomEPU

Why do food fails resonate with us so much? It’s because we all have that inner perfectionist, and food is one of the few areas where we can make a mess without serious consequences. When we see someone else mess up a dish in a creative way, it taps into that shared human experience of trying our best and failing, but still pushing forward.

In psychology, this is linked to the concept of “self-compassion.” It’s the idea that we can accept our mistakes without judgment, laugh at ourselves, and move on with a lighter heart. These fails? They’re a reminder that it’s okay not to be perfect.

#26 Oreo ice cream packs. from a Mexican fb group.

Source: BaseNice3520

#27 Fine dining

Source: SpooksmaGoops

#28 Croissant with shredded chicken and nether sauce and chipotle cheddar

Source: Difficult-Wish-7324

#29 FML

Source: Pwaise_Jebus

#30 Steak on high, grilled cheese with lettuce turkey and pepper

Source: Dartmonkemainman1

Chef and food critic Julia Child once said, “No one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.” This couldn’t be more true when it comes to food fails. What often gets lost in the pursuit of culinary perfection is the art of experimentation. Food fails are simply a part of the learning process, helping us grow in the kitchen.

As Julia Child reminds us, the greatest chefs failed numerous times before they succeeded. So the next time you make a mess in the kitchen, remember: it’s all part of the journey. Keep cooking, keep learning, and most importantly—keep laughing.

#31 Minecraft looking ass bread

Source: rot-fox

#32 Boy dinner

Source: sumemodude

#33 Microwave lasagna and a Heineken

Source: TheLoneGoon

#34 Digorno’s margherita pizza

Source: gothbanjogrl

#35 It’s the beef & beans to make tacos, my buddy just ate it instead because he’s a barbarian

Source: Hyprocritopotamus

Here’s a little reminder from Grumpy Sharks: embrace the chaos. Cooking isn’t just about the final product—it’s about the experience. So what if the cake is misshapen? So what if the cookies turned into a single blob?

What matters is the joy in the process. If you’ve ever burned dinner, laughed about it, and then made a mental note to try again next time, you’re doing it right. So, take that extra step and embrace the mishaps—they’ll turn into some of your most cherished kitchen memories.

#36 Pile

Source: agnes_agnes

#37 Hot dog and garden pea ramen

Source: masterstratblaster

#38 Anything good I can make from this? All I have

Source: Swagfag9000

#39 American vegetarian take on British breakfast

Source: artfully_rearranged

#40 home fries and other fried stuff.

Source: nehla01

And there you have it—40 brave culinary attempts that marched boldly into the kitchen and stumbled face-first onto the plate. Sure, they might not win any Michelin stars, but they did win our hearts… mostly through sheer audacity and the kind of chaotic energy that only a collapsed birthday cake or aggressively undercooked chicken nugget can provide.

These food fails remind us that cooking is as much about the journey as it is the destination—even if that destination is a soggy burrito that looks suspiciously like it’s judging you back. Whether you laughed, cringed, or felt personally attacked by that one spaghetti incident, hopefully these photos made your day a little tastier (in a visual-only kind of way).

So the next time your pancake turns out more “burnt frisbee” than “fluffy delight,” remember: you’re not alone. The internet is full of others who’ve also tried and gloriously failed, and that, dear friend, is the real recipe for comfort. Stay hungry for laughs—and maybe double-check the oven temperature next time.